Retrogrades
In 2004, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from December 17, 2003 to January 6, from April 6 to April 30, from August 10 to September 2, from November 30 to December 20. Venus: from May 17 to June 30. Mars does not go retrograde this year. London time.
from December 17, 2003 to January 6
Stops and turns back on December 17, 2003 at 16:00, at 12°33' Capricorn
Moves forward again on January 6 at 13:43, at 26°16' Sagittarius
Shadow: from November 30, 2003 to January 25; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from April 6 to April 30
Stops and turns back on April 6 at 21:27, at 1°55' Taurus
Moves forward again on April 30 at 14:05, at 21°06' Aries
Shadow: from March 24 to May 18; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from August 10 to September 2
Stops and turns back on August 10 at 01:32, at 8°46' Virgo
Moves forward again on September 2 at 14:09, at 25°44' Leo
Shadow: from July 21 to September 16; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from November 30 to December 20
Stops and turns back on November 30 at 12:17, at 26°44' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on December 20 at 06:29, at 10°27' Sagittarius
Shadow: from November 12 to January 7, 2005; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
from May 17 to June 30
Stops and turns back on May 17 at 23:28, at 26°08' Gemini
Moves forward again on June 30 at 00:15, at 9°37' Gemini
Shadow: from April 14 to August 2; the planet crosses the same degrees three times.
No retrograde this year.
from January 3 to May 5
Stops and turns back on January 3 at 23:57, at 18°54' Virgo
Moves forward again on May 5 at 04:06, at 8°54' Virgo
from October 26, 2003 to March 7
Stops and turns back on October 26, 2003 at 00:42, at 13°14' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 7 at 16:51, at 6°17' Cancer
from November 8 to March 22, 2005
Stops and turns back on November 8 at 06:54, at 27°20' Cancer
Moves forward again on March 22, 2005 at 02:53, at 20°23' Cancer
from June 10 to November 11
Stops and turns back on June 10 at 16:47, at 6°47' Pisces
Moves forward again on November 11 at 19:11, at 2°52' Pisces
from May 17 to October 24
Stops and turns back on May 17 at 13:12, at 15°23' Aquarius
Moves forward again on October 24 at 12:55, at 12°36' Aquarius
from March 24 to August 30
Stops and turns back on March 24 at 15:07, at 22°14' Sagittarius
Moves forward again on August 30 at 20:37, at 19°32' Sagittarius
In 2004, Mercury is retrograde 4 times: from December 17, 2003 to January 6, from April 6 to April 30, from August 10 to September 2, from November 30 to December 20. London time.
Yes: from May 17 to June 30. London time.
Mars does not go retrograde this year.
A planet never moves backwards. But Earth and the planet orbit the Sun at different speeds: when one overtakes the other, the planet, seen from here, seems to slow down, stop, back up for a few weeks, then move forward again. It's a perspective effect, regular and predictable centuries in advance.
In astrology, a retrograde planet invites you to go back over what it stands for: for Mercury, the planet of communication, it's a time to reread, review and repair rather than start something new. It's a symbolic reading: nothing proves that Mercury retrograde makes devices break down, but the advice to reread before you hit send always helps.
The shadow, for Mercury, Venus and Mars: the planet covers the same degrees three times, moving forward, backward, then forward again. Some astrologers already see the retrograde's theme in the shadow: a build-up before, a wrap-up after.
A station is the moment the planet seems to stop in the sky, before backing up or moving forward again. We look for it day by day, then refine it to the second with the Swiss Ephemeris (NASA ephemerides); the dates are checked against a second, independent calculation (Skyfield).